Star wheel music box

ABSTRACT

In a music box comprising a comb with fingers to vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends by striking wheels each individually associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective finger when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is directed laterally to the fingers adjacent their free ends, and a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof, from which projections extend, tangentially past the striking wheels so that the projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing a melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; spacing means independent of the striking wheels are provided between the wheels to isolate the rotational motion of each wheel from the adjacent wheels. These spacing means may be washers of a low friction synthetic plastic or projections formed integral with the base portion of the music box and extending upwardly therefrom.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harry Fishbein 3725 Henry Hudson Parkway, New York, NY. 10034 [21 Appl. No. 868,971 [22} Filed Oct. 8, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 697,421, Jan. 12, 1968.

[54] STAR WHEEL MUSIC BOX 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 84/98, 84/94 [51] lnt.Cl GlOf 1/06 [50] Field of Searc 84/94, 95, 97, 98,100

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,l54 11/1895 Bemard.. 84/97 568,292 9/1896 Berner.... 84/98 621,844 3/1899 Natterer 84/98 657,096 9/1900 Diezemann 84/98 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin ArtorneysLewis H. Eslinger and Alvin Sinderbrand ABSTRACT: In a music box comprising a comb with fingers to vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends by striking wheels each individually associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective finger when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is directed laterally to the fingers adjacent their free ends, and a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof, from which projections extend, tangentially past the striking wheels so that the projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing a melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; spacing means independent of the striking wheels are provided between the wheels to isolate the rotational motion of each wheel from the adjacent wheels. These spacing means may be washers of a low friction synthetic plastic or projections formed integral with the base portion of the music box and extending upwardly therefrom.

PATENTEUIFEBZM IQYI' 7 sum 3 or 3 FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7B.

mvzuron HARRY nsuasm ATTORNEY 1 STAR WHEEL MUSIC Box This application is a continuation-in-part of copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 697,42l, filed .lan. l2, i968.

This invention relates generally to a mechanical musical device of the type in which a melody or tune is played by the selective striking, in a predetermined sequence, of the free ends of the fingers of a metal comb which are dimensioned to vibrate at different audible frequencies, for example, as in music boxes and the like.

In existing musical devices of the described type, striking of the fingers to effect vibration thereof at their characteristic audible frequencies is effected selectively by projections extending from the surface of a barrel or cylinder mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis extending laterally with respect to the fingers adjacent the free ends of the latter, and the melody or tune to be played is predetermined by the relative locations of the projections on the barrel or cylinder and hence by the sequence in which the fingers are struck upon rotation of the barrel. In existing, commercially available musical devices of the described type, the barrel having projections extending therefrom to determine the melody or tune to be played is permanently installed in the device at the time of manufacture so that there is no possibility of changing the tune to be played or of selecting one tune or melody from among several that can be played by the same device, There are several reasons for the permanent installation of the projection bearing barrel in the device at the time of manufacture. Thus, it has been found that true tones are obtained from the striking of the fingers only if the elements effecting the striking are precisely positioned with respect to the respective fingers. Such precise positioning can only be achieved at the time of factory assembly, and not in any arrangement providing for the replacement or interchanging of barrels respectively having projections located thereon to correspond to different melodies or tunes. It has also been found that, in interchanging barrels having projections thereon which are directly engagcablc with the ends of the fingers to be vibrated, careless handling of the barrels can result in marring or distortion of the fingers with consequent adverse affects when the musical device is thereafter played. Further, in existing, commercially available musical devices of the described type, the barrel is relatively expensive so that its replacement for selecting other melodies is not economically feasible, particularly when the musical device is to be part of a toy.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical musical device of the type in which the fingers of a comb are struck, at their free ends, in a selected sequence to vibrate at different audible frequencies and thereby play a melody or tune determined by such sequence, and wherein the melody or tune may be changed at will without the possibility of damage to the comb and also without adversely affecting the clarity of the tones produced.

Another object is to provide a musical device of the described character in which the melody or tune to be played is determined by a replaceable actuating member which is conveniently interchanged with other similar actuating members and which does not effect direct contact with the fingers of the comb to be struck or producing the several tones.

A further object is to provide a musical device of the described character in which the replaceable actuating member may be relatively inexpensively formed of a plastic to make economically feasible the selection of several melodies to be played.

In a musical device of the type to which this invention relates, there are a comb with parallel fingers dimensioned to vibrate at different audible frequencies whenstruck at their free ends, a plurality of striking wheels each individually associated with a respective one of the fingers and being supported for free rotation relative to each other about an axis extending laterally with respect to the fingers adjacent their free ends, such striking wheels each having peripheral teeth arranged around the circumference thereof to strike the respective finger upon an angular displacement of the striking wheel,

a replaceable actuating member representing a surface from which projections extend at predetermined locations to establish the corresponding melody or tune, mounting means rcleasably supporting the actuating member for movement of such surface thereof generally tangentially past the striking wheels so that, during such movement of the actuating member, its projections selectively engage teeth of the striking wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing the melody or tune to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds, and spacing means interposed between the striking wheels to axially locate the wheels for engagement with the respective fingers and to ensure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause similar displacement of the adjacent wheels.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface of the actuating member from which the projections extend is disc-shaped and the actuating member is mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the striking wheels with the several projections being arranged in annular tracks spaced radially from each other on the discshaped surface to correspond with the distances from the striking wheels to the axis of rotation of the actuating member.

In a particularly desirable arrangement for mounting the striking wheels, each of the wheels has a central aperture, a fixed shaft extends through the central apertures of the several wheels, and the spacing means for axially locating and rotationally isolating the wheels are constituted by washers of low friction material disposed on the shaft between the wheels or by projections extending between the wheels from a frame in which the shaft is mounted.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mechanical musical device in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a subassembly of the device as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 on FIG. 2, and with the outline of an actuating member of the device being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 3, but showing a fragmentary portion of the actuating member in full lines;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the subassembly appearing on FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 5-5 on that FIG.;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottom or active surface of the actuating member which is shown partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged, fragmentary prospective view of the frame of another embodiment of this invention showing the spacing and shaft retaining portions thereof; and

FIG. 7B is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 2, but showing the embodiment of FIG. 7A.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that a musical device 10 according to this invention, as there shown, generally comprises a housing 11 containing a tone-producing assembly 12 adapted to be operated by a replaceable actuating member 13 for playing a melody or tune characteristic of the actuating member.

In accordance with this invention, the tone-producing assembly 12 includes a metal comb 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4) having a spine 15 and a number of parallel fingers 16 projecting from the spine and being dimensioned to vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends, and the same number of striking wheels 17 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) each individually associated with a respective one of the fingers 16. The comb 14 is secured at its spine 15, as by screws 18, on an elevated base 19 extending between the sides 20 of a metal or other suitably rigid U-shaped frame 21, and the striking wheels 17 are mounted within frame 21 for free rotation relative to each other about an axis X-X (FIG. 2) extending laterally with respect to the fingers 16 adjacent the free ends thereof and with the striking wheels 17 being axially located in planes containing the longitudinal axes of the respective fingers. as particularly shown on FIG. 3.

In a preferred construction, as shown, the above-described mounting of striking wheel 17 is achieved by means of a fixed shaft 22 (FIGS. 2 and 4) having its ends received in aligned openings provided in the sides 20 of frame 21, and which extends through central apertures formed in striking wheels 17 so that the latter are freely rotatable on shaft 22.

In accordance with the invention, spacing means are inter posed between the striking wheels 17 to axially locate the latter on shaft 22 for engagement with the respective fingers 16 and also to ensure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause a corresponding displacement of the adjacent wheels. I

In the embodiment of FIGS. 16, and as particularly shown on FIGS. 2 and 4, the mentioned spacing means comprises washers 23 through which shaft 22 extends. The washers 23 are formed of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, or any other plastic or resin having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the striking wheels and are interposed on shaft 22 between wheels 17 and between the latter and sides 20 of the frame. Shaft 22, and the striking wheels 17 and spacing washers 23 thereon, may be held in assembled relation to frame sides 20 so as to extend at least partly across the openings in such sides receiving shaft 22, whereby to engage the ends of the shaft and to hold shaft 22 against axial displacement that would move its ends out of the openings of sides 20. If desired, the periphery of each blocking member 24 may be peened, as at 26 (FIG. to extend into a countersink 27 at the adjacent end of shaft 22, and thereby secure the shaft against displacement relative to frame 21.

As shown particularly on FIG. 4, each of striking wheels 17 has peripheral teeth 28 arrange around the circumference thereof to strike the free end of the respective finger 16 upon an angular displacement of the striking wheel 17 about the axis of rotation XX defined by shaft 22. The teeth 28 of each striking wheel 17 are preferably of sawtooth configuration, as shown, to each present a substantially radially extending edge and a sloping edge, with the radially extending edge of each tooth facing in the direction of normal rotation of the striking wheel, as indicated by the arrow 29 on FIG. 4.

In accordance with this invention, the replaceable actuating member 13 presents a surface (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) from which projections 31 extend at predetermined locations, and such actuating member is releasably supported for movement of its surface 30 generally tangentially past striking wheels 17, during which movement of actuating member 13, the projections 31 thereof selectively engage teeth 28 of wheels 17 to angularly displace the wheels in a selected sequence and thereby cause teeth 28 of the angularly displaced wheels to strike fingers 16 in the same sequence for playing a tune or melody to which the replaceable actuating member 13 corresponds.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 16, the surface 30 of actuating member 13 is disc-shaped and is mounted for rotation about an axis Y-Y which is perpendicularv to the axis X-X about which striking wheels 17 are rotatable (FIG. 2). With such arrangement of actuating member 13, the projections 31 thereof, which may be constituted by pins cemented or otherwise secured in suitable openings in surface 30, are arranged in annular tracks on surface 30 which are spaced radially from each other to correspond with the respective distances from the striking wheels 17 to the axis Y-Yabout which member 13 is rotatable.

If desired, actuating member 13 may further have a cylindrical sidewall 32 (FIGS. 2 and 6) extending ,around the outer periphery of surface 30, a disc-shaped top wall 33 parallel to surface 30 and also joined, at its outer periphery, to sidewall 32, and a central tube 34 (FIG. 2) extending between top wall 33 and the bottom wall defining surface 30 to form an open ended axial bore 35 which may receive a spindle 36 on which actuating member 13 is releasably mounted for rotation about axis Y-Y. The bottom wall of actuating member 13 may further have a depending rim 37 concentric with bore 35 to define a socket 38 dimensioned to receive a shoulder 39 at the bottom of spindle 36. The shoulder 39 may be provided with diametrically opposed pins 40 extending axially upward therefrom (FIG. 2) to be received in correspondingly shaped and located bores 41 opening into socket 38 (FIG. 6).

It will be apparent that, with the above-described structure, actuating member 13 may be installed on above-described 36 with pins 40 received in bores 41 to rotatably couple the actuating member to the spindle, while permitting convenient removal of actuating member 13 merely by upward movement of the actuating member off the spindle.

The spindle 36 is suitably mounted for rotation about the axis Y-Y and is suitably driven in rotation, for example, by a spring operated drive schematically represented at 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

When actuating member 13 is rotated, for example, in the clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 43 on FIG. I, the several pins 31 engage teeth 28 of wheels 17 projecting into the paths of travel of the pins and thereby impart an angular displacement, or incremental rotational movement to the respective striking wheels 17 in the direction of the arrow 29 on FIG. 4. During each such angular displacement ofa striking wheel, a tooth 28 thereof is moved past the free end of the respective finger 16 to strike the latter and cause its vibration at the characteristic audible frequency. It will be apparent that the order or sequence in which fingers 16 of the comb are struck to produce their respective tones depends upon the am rangement of pins 31 on the particular actuating member 13 being employed. Thus, the tune or melody being played can be conveniently changed merely by replacing one actuating member 13 with another actuating member differing therefrom only in the arrangement of its pins 31.

Since the pins 31 of the actuating member do not actually engage the fingers 16 of comb 14, there is no possibility of deforming or otherwise damaging such fingers 16 during the exchanging of actuating member 13. Further, it will be apparent that the striking wheels 17 which actually engage fingers 16 form parts of a permanent installation with comb 14 so that the exchanging of actuating members 13 for changing the tune or melody to be played cannot adversely affect the necessary accurate alignment of the striking wheels with respect to the fingers 16. It is also to be seen that, although the striking wheels 17 which actually engage the fingers 16 are formed of metal so that the striking action provides the desired tonal clarity which does not vary with prolonged usage, the exchangeable actuating members 13 which select the tune or melody to be played may be conveniently molded or otherwise formed of plastic for easy an economical manufacture.

In another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 78, wherein the structure of the musical device and the operation thereof are similar to that described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the same reference numerals appended by the letter a are utilized to identify corresponding elements. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B, spacing means which are independent of the wheels 1711 and interposed therebetween to axially locate the wheels 17a for engagement with the respective fingers 16a, and to ensure that angular displacement of any selected wheel 17a does not cause similar displacement of the wheels 17a ad jacent thereto, are formed integral with the base portion 190, of the frame 21a, and extend upwardly therefrom. As shown, the integral spacing means may comprise a series of fingers 45 extending upwardly from the base between the wheels 17a to form a series of slots 46 in which the striking wheels 17a freely extend when rotatably mounted on shaft 22a. The striking wheels 17a may be positioned in the slots 46 formed by the fingers 45 with the radially extending edge of each tooth facing in the direction of normal rotation of the striking wheel 17a as indicated by the arrow 29a, and then the shaft 22a may be inserted through the central apertures formed in the several wheels 17a and through the openings in sides 20a of the frame, It will be noted that the fingers 45 may have arcuate upper end edges 45a aligned with the openings in frame sides 200. With wheels 17a rotatably mounted in the slots 46 on fixed shaft 22a, the operation of the device is as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-6. With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. spacing and rotational isolation of the striking wheels may be achieved without the necessity of separate fabrication of the spacing means, as the spacing means may be formed integral with the base of the musical device.

Although illustrative embodiments of this invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

I. In a musical device having a comb with fingers that vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends, striking wheels each associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective finger when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is directed laterally to the fingers adjacent their free ends, and a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof. from which projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing a melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; each of said striking wheels having a central aperture, a fixed shaft extending through the central apertures of said wheels, so that the latter are freely rotatable on said shaft, and plastic spacing washers having low coefficients of friction with respect to said wheels interposed between the latter on said shaft to axially locate the wheels for engagement with respective fingers to insure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause similar displacement of the wheels adjacent thereto.

2. A musical device according to claim 1. in which a rigid frame has spaced side portions with aligned openings in the latter axially receiving ends of said shaft, and blocking means are removably secured on said side portions to extend at least partly across said openings at the outer surfaces of said side portions, whereby to retain said shaft against axial displacement moving said ends outof said openings.

3. In a musical device having a comb with fingers to vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends, a support frame having a base portion including spaced side portions extending upwardly from said base portion and having aligned openings therein, striking wheels each associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective fingers when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof, from which projections extend, tangentially past the striking wheel so that the projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing the melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; each of said striking wheels having a central aperture, a fixed shaft having its ends axially received in said aligned openings and extending through the central apertures of said wheels so that the latter are freely rotatable on said shaft, and spacing members integral with and extending upwardly from said base portion between adjacent striking wheels to positions adjacent the periphery of said shaft and having arcuate upper edges adapted to closely conform tot he surface of said shaft when the latter is in axial alignment with said aligned openings in said spaced side portions whereby said spacing members axially locate the wheels for engagement with the respective fingers and insure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause similar displacement of the wheels adjacent thereto.

4. A musical device according to claim 3, in which blocking means are removably secured on said side portions to extend at least partly across said openings at the outer surfaces of said side portions, whereby to retain said shaft against axial displacement moving said ends out of said openings. 

1. In a musical device having a comb with fingers that vIbrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends, striking wheels each associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective finger when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is directed laterally to the fingers adjacent their free ends, and a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof, from which projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing a melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; each of said striking wheels having a central aperture, a fixed shaft extending through the central apertures of said wheels, so that the latter are freely rotatable on said shaft, and plastic spacing washers having low coefficients of friction with respect to said wheels interposed between the latter on said shaft to axially locate the wheels for engagement with respective fingers to insure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause similar displacement of the wheels adjacent thereto.
 2. A musical device according to claim 1, in which a rigid frame has spaced side portions with aligned openings in the latter axially receiving ends of said shaft, and blocking means are removably secured on said side portions to extend at least partly across said openings at the outer surfaces of said side portions, whereby to retain said shaft against axial displacement moving said ends out of said openings.
 3. In a musical device having a comb with fingers to vibrate at different audible frequencies when struck at their free ends, a support frame having a base portion including spaced side portions extending upwardly from said base portion and having aligned openings therein, striking wheels each associated with a respective finger and having peripheral teeth to strike the respective fingers when the wheel is angularly displaced independently of the other wheels about an axis of rotation which is a replaceable actuating member releasably mounted for movement of a surface thereof, from which projections extend, tangentially past the striking wheel so that the projections selectively engage teeth of the wheels to angularly displace the latter in a selected sequence and thereby cause striking of the fingers in such sequence for playing the melody to which the replaceable actuating member corresponds; each of said striking wheels having a central aperture, a fixed shaft having its ends axially received in said aligned openings and extending through the central apertures of said wheels so that the latter are freely rotatable on said shaft, and spacing members integral with and extending upwardly from said base portion between adjacent striking wheels to positions adjacent the periphery of said shaft and having arcuate upper edges adapted to closely conform tot he surface of said shaft when the latter is in axial alignment with said aligned openings in said spaced side portions whereby said spacing members axially locate the wheels for engagement with the respective fingers and insure that angular displacement of any selected wheel does not cause similar displacement of the wheels adjacent thereto.
 4. A musical device according to claim 3, in which blocking means are removably secured on said side portions to extend at least partly across said openings at the outer surfaces of said side portions, whereby to retain said shaft against axial displacement moving said ends out of said openings. 